The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-29
A RESPONSE FROM CITIZENS
The Strong Speeches at Largely At
tended Meeting insPfaffiln's Hall.
erful Support from Non-Partisans
Who Plainly Set Forth the Issue.

advertisement or special notice had been given,
was held at Pfafiins Hall last night to consider
ihs municipal campaign. The only intimation
those present had had of its taking place was the
word passed yesterday from mouth mouth
among people who are. irrespective of party, OPP
posed to the Coy gang. This very simple and
primitive means of notification brought out a
representative audience of 300 or more. In it
was TO be seen the merchant, the professional man
and the mechanic. very few of whom had ever
taken promi nent part in politics. All
moved by the one sentiment, opposition, to the
saloon control OF city affairs, antagonism
to gang influences and strong hostility
to tally-sheet forgers and political
bribery. For an hour and half speeches were
made, and attentively listened to by the aud
fence. and the entire meeting, considering the
circumstances under which it was called.
wonderful expression of public purpose and
thusasm. AS speaker after speaker gave his
views. the applause increased in force and every
denunciation of Coy and his methods was sure
to bring from the hearers the heartiest approval
AS one speaker termed it, it was political
meeting without partisan politics, As Democrats.
Republicans. Prohbitionists and workingmen
had equal interest in it. On motion of DR..
Oliver. John B. Conner was chosen chairman
W. P. Fishback was called for and was the
frst speaker. He said in substance:
I once heard Gov. Joseph A Wright make a
speech IN the Governors Circle, in this city, in
the midst of an exciting cam paign, and ne told
the people IN that speech that so far as they
were personally concerned. the election of
member OF the City Council or township trus-
lee was more important to them than the cleo
lion OF United States Senator member of
Congress. thought he was exaggeratlng the
Importance of local affairs at the time but ex-
perienceas citizen and tax payer has con WINGED
me of the wisdom of his words. Dir. John FIske,
by one OF his great lectures on Am-ri can pollti
cal IDEAS emphasizes the Importance of the
lessor municipal organizations, and shows that
the great superiority OF English speaking COM
munifteS rests largely in the fact that the Anglo
Saxon has been drilled for centuries in the duty
and work of attending with diligence to his local
governments-the town, the township. the city
and the county. Do the taxpayers of Indiana
or of Indianapolis need to be convinced of thisl
Why have such vast sums of money been lost
from our county and city treasuriesl Sinbly
because we have nominated and tied dishonest
or incompetent offcials-men who lacked expe.
rienoe or ability-or men who were rascals.
And for this We have paid the penalty In in
creased taxation.
We have here city of 100 600 people The
vast majority of citizens have respect for the
laws-obey the laws, and would like them
obeyed. This class love their homes and fami-
lies. They spend their days in honest. useful
labor, and their nights in the peaceful society of
their families and their friends In all large
cities tnerO ID 2nOther claSs-ldI0rs. law break
ers-men who keep places where idlers and law
breakers congregate. These men, to hear EN-
talk, are in a state OF constant excitement the
subject of politics While in one sense they are
oilers. In ano other sense they the busiest men
Ia city In all large cities they are alike. In
thelr collective capacity they called gangs"
We eave heard of the Tweed gang. the Nc
Maxim gang. and the Coy gang The Tweed
gang was composed of the most powerful COM
binaton of political footpads that ever throttled
=. great city: ,, For years the ta.paysrs Of
held in the grasp Of the Tweed gang They
robbed the treasury, they elected and corrupted
the judges-the gang always like to have
friend court They enriched themselves
with the spoils they took from the people Their
children wore diamond shoe buttons: the bosses
blazed with brilliants. But ! day OF reckoning
came. The bosses were put in the penltentiarv,
where all bosses of gangs belong, and their
creatures. the corrupt judges, were disgraced
and ostracized lt was great triumph, but
millions of the peoples money WAS gone and the
city debt was piled M mountain high.
In like manner the rogues of Indianapolis
have banded together to seize the city govern
ment. Men who are living in the shadow
of the penitentiary. and who. but for miscar-
riage of justice, would be wearing the striped
clothes OF the convict, have obtained control of
the city organization OF the Democratic party
and are asking honest members Of that party to
assist them in their efforts to get control OF the
city government am encouraged by the as
surance that many honest, law abiding Demo-
Gratis will not lend their aid to these rascals
Why do they want to govern our city! For
what good purpose! Is it that they may enact
good laws and en- force those now Oh the statute
book2 On the contrary does not tho whole tenor
Of their conduct show that they expect the sup
port Of law-breakers and in return to en-
courage lawlessness and shield law breakers? |
Shall we permit the rascals to triumph We !
know to a certainty what use they will make of |
their victory The taxpayer will be robbed,
every department. of the city !
city will be disgraced. and after short |
experiences honest people will get mad and turn
IL is cheaper and better to keep them out 1 !
am not willing TO trust what interests have as
; citizen and tax payer to snch men as Coy and
bis followers, even if they do carry in their
pocket a certificate or good character from Mr.
English and other reputable citizens. l am free
TO say do not like Mr.. Coy. do not like
who are like Mr. Coy. and l have very poor
opinion of men who like Coy his gang.
In his portion as chairman of the county CEN
:ral committee he is a disgrace to his party; in
his position as a member Of the Common Coun-
III he Is a disgrace to the city; in his position
outside of the penitentiary he is disgrace to the
of criminal Jurisprudence, both
State and national do not want this beauti-
ul city In which have passed more than half
ny life. and where / expect to die-I do not
want Indianapolis to bend her neck to the yoke
II such a master. believe we are about to
wonderful impetus given to the prosperity of this
ity, and do not wish to see her handicapped,
10 she will be If the roeues who now plotting
o seize the city government shall succeed. We
an defeat them, and IL must be done. 1t will
equire vigilance, and we must be vigiant. 1t
win require effort but believe that good citi-
Tens OF all parties willing to assist
Mr. Fishback, continuing said he met of
the gang the other day whom he thought To be
more fool than rascal. This man said: IT do
lot understand why L should be abused. L
AVE always tried to do my best for the city"
i replied" said Mr.. Fishback, IF you have
lone your best do not know where the city
would now be II you had done your worst The
success of Coy aud the gang means depleted
treasury and blight upon the city;but 7 expect
n the next two weeks and on the day of the
section great things of the people Of this vigor-
,ur city,"
Mr.. Fishoack WAS repeatedly applauded, and
when he retired and gave way TO Captain Ritter
the enthusiasm that developed stirred the most
,hleematc to take part in the general good
heer AZ so suspicious beginning of the citizens
light against gang rule. Captain Ritter said
hat he intended to stay in Indianapolis, and
wanted 20 make the city as pleasant as possible
That can be done only through good govern
nent, and that cannot be secured except by the
lnited effort of good ciLizens RQt the gnnd citi-